Geographic XML database management system

Abstract

The present invention relates to an XML database management system for providing geographic information. In one embodiment, the XML database management system comprises a loader capable to convert ( 1 ) a geospatial data document, in particular a shape file, into an XML document in accordance with a predefined XML schema, wherein the predefined XML schema defines geospatial data ( 10 ) and attributes ( 20 ) to be stored in a single XML node, and an XQuery capability enabling a user to retrieve ( 4 ) the XML document based on one or more of its attributes ( 20 ).

1 . An XML. database management system for providing geographic information comprising:
 a. a loader capable to convert ( 1 ) a geospatial data document, in particular a shape me, into an XML document in accordance with a predefined XML schema, wherein the predefined XML schema defines geospatial data ( 10 ) and attributes ( 20 ) to be stored in a single XML node of the XML document; and   b. an XQuery capability enabling a user to retrieve ( 4 ) the XML document based on one or more of its attributes.   
   
   
       2 . The XML database management system according to  claim 1  further comprising an export capability for exporting the XML document in a scalable vector graphics (SVG) format and/or a KML format. 
   
   
       3 . The XML database management system according to  claim 1  further comprising an export capability for exporting the XML document as a shape file. 
   
   
       4 . The XML database management system according to  claim 1  wherein the shape file comprises a .shp, .shx and .dbf file. 
   
   
       5 . The XML database management system of  claim 1  wherein the XML schema for the loader is defined based on user input. 
   
   
       6 . An XML database system comprising an XML database and a XML database management system according to  claim 1 . 
   
   
       7 . A meted of providing geographic information comprising the steps of:
 a. converting ( 1 ) a geospatial data document, in particular a shape file, into an XML document in accordance with a predefined XML schema, wherein the predefined XML schema defines geospatial data ( 10 ) and attributes ( 20 ) to be stored in a single XML node of the XML document; and   performing ( 4 ) an XQuery based on one or more of the attributes ( 20 ) to retrieve the XML document.   
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising the step of exporting the XML document in a scalable vector graphics (SVG) format and I or a KML format and/or as a shape file. 
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the shape file comprises a .shp, shx and .dbf file. 
   
   
       10 . A computer program comprising instructions adapted to perform a method of  claim 7 .